The NHL Entry draft is still 3 months away. For Edmonton Oiler scouts, that's a good thing.

The race for #1 overall is heating up. The second season is bringing out the best of this year's elite talent. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is sublime in the WHL series and Adam Larsson is back and having a major impact on the SEL playoffs. Gabriel Landeskog, Sean Couturier, Ryan Strome and Dougie Hamilton are all making a difference. Here's a look at the candidates for #1 overall and how they're doing this spring.

ADAM LARSSON

We discussed Larsson's first round at length here and the young man continues to play heavy minutes when healthy. In Skelleftea's second round series he was injured and missed one of the games. Here are the results so far:

Game 1: 13:32 TOI Even 2 hits (and an injury)

Game 2: DID NOT PLAY

Game 3: 26:47 TOI +1 1 assist (on an OT goal) and 1 hit

Game 4: Today

So far this spring, Larsson is 9gp, 0-3-3 -1 with 6pims and 14 shots on goal during the playoffs. He's averaging 22:41 per game overall, but is clearly a staple on the Skelleftea backline.

RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS

Dominant in his first game with the Rebels in their series against the Edmonton Oil Kings, he scored again last night and had plenty of chances. A wonderful playmaker, his compete level is very high and he's a tremendous passer. RNH has very good speed and is exceptionally elusive. I'm less worried about his slender build now than before I'd seen him play in this tough playoff series. RNH's totals are 2gp, 3-2-5 +1.

GABRIEL LANDESKOG

The theme in regard to Landeskog has been the same all season: scouts and onlookers alike are astonished at his maturity in all areas and his NHL readiness. Landeskog plays a gritty game and is considered by many the best player available in this year's draft. He's had an impact on this year's playoffs, and that's to be expected since this time of year lends itself to his style. 2gp, 2-1-3 +2 early in the post-season

DOUGIE HAMILTON

A couple of weeks ago I spoke to Niagra's coach/GM Marty Williamson about the Ice Dogs and their surprising season. Williamson: "We thought our team was built for next year but our two young guys Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Strome have had phenomenal seasons. It's amazing what Dougie does for us: he quarterbacks the PP, he kills penalties and plays against top lines, his icetime is always up there." Hamilton is 1gp, 1-1-2 +2 going into game 2 today.

RYAN STROME

Williamson: "He's been a game breaker, dangerous on the powerplay. But to be able to score 5x5 at his age that's a real compliment to him. He's also been a very consistent player all year." Strome plays on the 1PP but the Ice Dogs rotate two units so the offensive stats are not overblown ala Robbie Schremp. Again Williamson: "He's not killing penalties for me, we wanted to keep him rested for even strength and the powerplay." He is 1gp, 0-0-0 -1 so far in the playoffs.

SEAN COUTURIER

The big man just keeps on rolling. He's 2gp, 1-2-3 +3 with 2pims so far this playoffs. He is about 60% in the faceoff circle so far this post-season and did score 6 hits according to the scoresheet, but that lack of physical play continues to dog him (along with the concerns about foot speed).

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

I think it's down to three players: Adam Larsson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Gabriel Landeskog. One thing is certain: the decision has yet to be made, and playoff performances will have a major impact (as they did a year ago).

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Lowdown with Lowetide weekday mornings 10-noon on TSN 1260.

With Kopitar going down with a broken ankle and Justin Williams out the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder, LA may end up around the 18th pick. So the 18th and a player or the 18th and 31st should get some interest.

So, Landeskog doesnt have the points, and too many unknowns with Larsson. So its down to RNH vs Couturier for the draft. That looks good for the Oilers, who need a franchise center badly, and even if we lose the lottery, we will still have a stud centerman for Hallsy next year.
It could be the old Sean vs Ryan debate, kind of like last year. Consensus pedigree vs the late bloomer.

was it this year that RNH had a one month long goal scoring drought?(I honestly cant recall) numbers are good now though...I'm sure he was still getting points but if he woulda had say 10 goals that month it would sure make him more appealing yeah? either way, its going to be a long few months complaining in forums till we know the Oil will do...or not do

Hopefully this uncertainty about who should go first will work to the advantage of the Oil. The Isles need a stud defenceman. Colorado just picked up a stud Dman but need wingers, especially a bruising winger, to play with Duchesne. I would hazard to guess the Sens could use a Dman more than anything else at this point, but their needs are many with the rebuild just starting. If we could trade down and get an extra goody while still getting our guy, that would rock. Hard to pull off though because you need to know how everyone else will pick to make sure you still get your guy. For instance, in 2005, we traded down because we didn't want Parise. We already had Comrie and didn't want another small, skilled player. So we traded down hoping to land one of the more physical players later. This list included Getzlaf. Well, we missed out on Getzlaf, and wound up with Pouliot. While Pouliot was alright at the time, Getzlaf was the kid that was higher on the radar. You all know the rest.

Hopefully this uncertainty about who should go first will work to the advantage of the Oil. The Isles need a stud defenceman. Colorado just picked up a stud Dman but need wingers, especially a bruising winger, to play with Duchesne. I would hazard to guess the Sens could use a Dman more than anything else at this point, but their needs are many with the rebuild just starting. If we could trade down and get an extra goody while still getting our guy, that would rock. Hard to pull off though because you need to know how everyone else will pick to make sure you still get your guy. For instance, in 2005, we traded down because we didn't want Parise. We already had Comrie and didn't want another small, skilled player. So we traded down hoping to land one of the more physical players later. This list included Getzlaf. Well, we missed out on Getzlaf, and wound up with Pouliot. While Pouliot was alright at the time, Getzlaf was the kid that was higher on the radar. You all know the rest.

Sad people care about draft picks, since we cheer for a brutal team and have nothing better to do then hope our over hyped picks make it. You think this seasons team sucks wait till next season yikes

I really can not agree we will almost make the playoffs next year or just squeak in. I really do not expect a sophomore jinx on Hall he just wont let it happen. Harsky is going to surprise a lot of people including me. The biggest lack Is more size at center and a D man.

Someone made a good point above that Stanley Cup teams draft their own top line centers. 100% agree.
I believe a top defenseman can be acquired easier than someone's top line center.
We need a center named Ryan or Sean in this draft I'm afraid.
Roman Hamrlik, former #1 overall. Somehow we traded for him, and Montreal got him for nothing. Good defenseman, but I wouldnt want him #1 overall, or even top 5.

Alright lets be serious here, Oilers are in great shape, and the draft this year is just going to help out even more. We have 3 picks in the top 32 of the draft including the number 1 or if we lose the lottery the number 2 pick. Regardless if you loose the lottery, you still take Larsson (if RNH goes 1st) and there is a number of quality centres (phillips, Zibanejad, jenner, Rask, Mcneill, Scheifel) just to name a few that fall into our LA pick. I do think that we need to take RNH if possible, but regardless Larsson, Landeskog or even couturier will all improve our club tremendously. If we do end up drafting Landeskog, lets make him a center. Id hate to see Hall get converted to center with his speed down the wing.
I will accept Larsson to be drafted if we get the #2 pick, but truth be told we need a Centre and RNH is that guy.

With Kopitar going down with a broken ankle and Justin Williams out the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder, LA may end up around the 18th pick. So the 18th and a player or the 18th and 31st should get some interest.

Now that we are stating such things, wouldn't it suck if Penner went on a scoring rampage leading the playoffs in points and leading the KINGS to a Stanley cup just to spite the oilers pick....I know its a long shot, but now I'm strangely hungry for a Donair..

Does anyone know of a site that would give a list of players that dropped on draft day?
Just wondering about guys like Fowler and Gormley who dropped from their projected draft positions and look to be players that will outperform their actual draft number.
Ultimately, I'm wondering, do the NHL scouts get it right more often than central scouting or vice-versa (at least when it comes to these guys who fell in the draft).
Furthermore, how about the opposite - when a kid gets picked way ahead of his projected draft day position by a team that goes off the board, what are the odd that he will outperform his actual draft day position?

So I watched RNH play game 3 against the OK. You definitely noticed him out there, slick puckhandler and play maker. Not sure if he's superstar calibre. He also doesnt look 6 feet tall. 5'10 or 5'11 by my eye. Maybe his teammates were all giants, but thats how it looked.